National

Battle continues over Qld health funding

QUEENSLAND'S health minister says state government cuts have made the health system better, but the commonwealth's decision to pull funding has led to non-urgent surgeries being slashed.

Lawrence Springborg's comments - the latest in the blame game over funding between the two governments - come after the commonwealth announced it would bypass the Victorian government and directly fund that state's hospitals to the tune of $107 million.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has foreshadowed a similar move in Queensland.

Mr Springborg says he'd welcome the measure, as the state would get back about $103 million it lost in federal cuts halfway through the financial year.

He says the state government has made no secret about its desire to "streamline" the health system's bureaucracy to focus on frontline services.

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